Hailed as “masterly” by The New York Times Book Review, “a brilliantly constructed debut set in the aftermath of catastrophic loss” (2015 Man Booker Prize Judges).

The stunning debut novel from bestselling author Bill Clegg is a magnificently powerful story about a circle of people who find solace in the least likely of places as they cope with a horrific tragedy.

On the eve of her daughter’s wedding, June Reid’s life is upended when a shocking disaster takes the lives of her daughter, her daughter’s fiancé, her ex-husband, and her boyfriend, Luke—her entire family, all gone in a moment. June is the only survivor.

Alone and directionless, June drives across the country, away from her small Connecticut town. In her wake, a community emerges, weaving a beautiful and surprising web of connections through shared heartbreak.

From the couple running a motel on the Pacific Ocean where June eventually settles into a quiet half-life, to the wedding’s caterer whose bill has been forgotten, to Luke’s mother, the shattered outcast of the town—everyone touched by the tragedy is changed as truths about their near and far histories finally come to light.

Elegant and heartrending, and one of the most accomplished fiction debuts of the year, Did You Ever Have a Family is an absorbing, unforgettable tale that reveals humanity at its best through forgiveness and hope. At its core is a celebration of family—the ones we are born with and the ones we create.

An Author, and a New Publishing Imprint, to Watch

I loved this book. Put simply, Bill Clegg's Did You Ever Have a Family follows the fallout from a house fire the night before June's daughter's wedding, in which the daughter and her fiance, June's ex-husband, and her current lover Luke all died, leaving both June and Luke's mother Lydia bereft of any family. Although, as would be expected, most of the chapters follow June and Lydia as they try to cope with not only their losses, but also the past choices which led them to that point, we also get to hear from such tangential characters as the wedding florist and caterer, and it is Clegg's ability to give even minor characters their own distinctive voices which makes the book shine. Listen to the first words out of the florist's mouth:
"They wanted daisies in jelly jars. Local daisies in fifty or so jelly jars they’d collected after they were engaged. Seemed childish to me, especially since June Reid wasn’t exactly putting her daughter’s wedding together on a shoestring. But who was I to have an opinion? Putting daisies in jelly jars is hardly high-level flower arranging, more like monkey work if you want to know the truth. Still, work is work, and the flower business around here is thin, so you take what you can get."
Her bitterness oozes through the gossip she shares about June, Luke, and Lydia, but even she has her redeeming moment:
"The daisies did not go to waste. Every single one was put to use. They never did see the inside of any jelly jars, but they found their way into a hundred or more funeral arrangements. Even when no one asked for them—and let’s face it, most did not—I still found a way to make them work. No one ever accused me of being a soft touch, but when something like what happened at June Reid’s that morning happens, you feel right away like the smallest, weakest person in the world. That nothing you do could possibly matter. That nothing matters. Which is why, when you stumble upon something you can do, you do it. So that’s what I did."
Did You Ever Have a Family is not just a family drama, however; there is an intriguing mystery surrounding the cause of the fatal fire, the resolution of which is both surprising and, in hindsight, inexorable. Clegg's theme of the unanticipated consequences of personal choices is organic throughout; none of the developments feels forced, and the elegiac tone at the end is perfect.
Be prepared to laugh; be prepared to cry; but above all, be prepared to celebrate Clegg's move from memoir to fiction. Scout Press could not have made a better selection for its lead title, and I can't wait to see more from both this author and this imprint.
I received a free copy of Did You Ever Have a Family through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

by Deborah Craytoron September 29, 2015

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Sorrowful

I could not imagine the depth of their loss, her loss and through this story I felt like I did. I felt so up close and personal, just heart wrenching. Three days after finishing, these characters are still with me. Moving.

by Pixiepencoon September 29, 2015

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Entrancing

A 2015 Man Booker longlist finalist, and the best way I can describe this book is to say that it felt like watching a work of art being painted.
From that initial blank canvas that comes from introducing all the narrators, to the bold strokes outlining the plot as we figure out how everyone overlaps, and then, the last third of the book, where we watch all the details fill in - this was exquisitely engrossing every step of the way.
I love when I have the chance to encounter a novel that is confident in its telling - where the plot is well developed and the ending carefully executed, and where the author seems in control of its direction at all times. Mr. Clegg is a natural storyteller - or at the very least, he appeals to my preferences in stories. Easily one of the highlights from the 2015 Man Booker Dozen.

by Kelly H.on August 14, 2016

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Beautiful writing.

loved this book - it was sad yet I loved all the characters, flaws and all.
Would highly recommend. Wonder why it isn't on bestseller list. Much better than a lot of the over hyped bestsellers.

by KJon November 28, 2016

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Excellent Character Development

The story begins with a catastrophic tragedy and is developed both past and present through strong character development. Each chapter present the point of view of a person connected, either directly or indirectly, with the tragedy. I believe this wide-ranging character development is what makes this book so strong. The only small weakness is June - it isn't clear what bruised her life so badly that she consistently distances herself from people she truly cares about. At one point I felt, "how does she even get to mourn when the tragedy basically gave her everything she was striving for?" I guess that is the true tragedy and in the end, that some of her guilt was mitigated opens the possibility for redemption. All told, this is a gripping novel and kudos to Mr. Clegg for his ability to express through all the voices necessary to create it. Highly recommended.